Dryness is intensifying in the northern Plains, and cattlemen and grain markets are responding.
The latest drought monitor shows the drought in North Dakota and parts of neighboring states is getting worse by the day. The entire state is at some level of drought, but the big changes are seen in the individual categories.
74 percent is in moderate drought compared to 25 percent one week ago, and 14 percent is now rated as severe drought when last week it was zero.
Many North Dakota ranchers who recently turned their cows and calves out to pasture are selling off sections of their herds. Producers are fearful there won’t be enough grass to get livestock through a long, hot summer.
Livestock producers have been waiting for rain are running out of options, so they’re delivering cattle to auction markets.
“The panic mode has started,” said Jerry Kist, owner of Kist Livestock Auction. “The reality that this could get serious is here.”
He says his auction market is adding an extra sale each week to handle the drastic increase in the number of cattle being sold...more
Here is the video report:
No comments:
Post a Comment